Scott Boras has stepped up his criticism of teams for a lack of spending.
The large-market New York Mets have cut payroll by about one-third over the past two seasons and were 17th at about $95 million in the latest 2013 figures.
"I think the ability to spend and actually spending are two different things. And that's only for the Mets to diagnose," Boras said. "Certainly their franchise value has gone through the roof -- they're well over $2 billion. They're a very successfully run business operation. The Mets have the ability to do pretty much what they want to do."
The Cubs were 15th in payroll this year at about $101 million. Boras said the Rickets family has put too much emphasis on the redevelopment of Wrigley Field and not enough on major league payroll.
"You're developing the infrastructure, but fans don't come to see seats, grass, cement. They come to see players," he said. "They've done a great job in the draft and development and they've got a really good core of young players coming, but it is just not what's expected when you have a (family) buy a major-market club."
Boras also joked about the Astros, who dealt away players and lowered their payroll to $29 million this season.
Via Associated Press